Prevalence and Severity of Oral Diseases in the Africa and Middle East Region

Abstract

This review aims to determine the prevalence and severity of oral health diseases in the Africa and Middle East region (AMER). The profile of oral diseases is not homogeneous across the AMER. There are large disparities between groups. Reliable data are scarce. The prevalence and severity of oral diseases appear to be increasing in the African region, as does associated morbidity. There are substantial differences in inequalities in oral health. Dental caries prevalence is less severe in most African countries than in developed countries, but the high rate of untreated caries reflects the limited resources available and difficulties of access and affordability to essential oral health care services. The prevalence of gingival inflammation is very high in all age groups in several African countries. The prevalence of maxillofacial trauma has increased in many countries, with a wide variation of the incidence and high prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in primary and permanent teeth. Orofacial clefts are among the most common birth defects. Annual incidence of oral cancer is estimated as 25 cases per 100,000 people in Africa. Noma is a major public health problem for the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. Data about human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS are limited, particularly in the MENA region. According to the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa report, some fundamental key basic knowledge gaps need to be underlined. They include inequalities in oral health, low priority for oral health, lack of adequate funding, inadequate dental student training, obstacles to medical and dental research, and poor databases. There are very few effective public prevention and oral health promotion programs in the AMER. Universal health coverage is not achievable without scientific research on the effectiveness of health promotion interventions.

Constructing public health policies in post crisis countries: lessons to learn from the associations between free-sugars consumption and diabetes, obesity and dental caries before, during and after sanctions in Iraq

“…The Middle East region has recently faced a marked increase in the burden of free-sugar-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly type-2 diabetes, overweight/obesity and dental caries (Mirmiran et al 2010; Boutayeb et al 2012; Abid et al 2015). Free sugars, a determinant and common risk factor across the aforementioned NCDs (Ruxton et al 2010; Te Morenga et al 2013; Moynihan and Kelly 2014), are defined as monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by the manufacturers, cooks or consumers and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates (World Health Organization and Food Agriculture Organization 2002).…”

Addressing Oral Health Inequalities in the Africa and Middle East Region

“…In addition to caries and periodontal disease, TDIs affect about 15% of schoolchildren in AMER (Abid et al 2015). AIDS-related oral lesions such as oral hairy leukoplakia, candidal infection, oral Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, and periodontitis are also prevalent in higher frequency and severity in sub-Saharan Africa, where the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS is the highest in the world.…”

Adherence of preventative oral care products in the Syrian market to evidence-based international recommendations

“…Oral health is an essential integral part of general health and has a profound impact on individuals' wellbeing and quality of life. The Middle East countries are facing a marked increase in the prevalence and severity of dental caries and periodontal diseases (1). Furthermore, the rates of dental caries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are higher than in most industrialized countries (2,3).…”